Wire puller



`J. M. FOLEY June 27, 1961 WIRE FULLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8,1960 ATTORNEYS J. M. FOLEY `lune 27, 1961 WIRE PULLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 8, 1960 FIG. 4

FIG. 8

l A TTORNE YS United States Patent O+ 2,990,160 WIRE FULLER .lames M.Foley, `Caldwell Township, Essex County, NJ., assgnor to FairfieldIndustries, Caldwell Township, NJ., a partnership Filed July 8, 1960,Ser. No. 41,629 4 Claims. (Cl. 254-134.3)

This invention relates to a wire puller and more particularly to aportable, manually operated device which may be employed by one man topull wires through cont such a device.

Another object of the invention is to provide great pulling strength ina device which weighs very litle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the foregoingtype that is easy to use from an elevated position, as from an extensionladder or scaffold, where wire pulling with a snake is dangerous anddifficult, and that may be employed safely to pull cables into livepanels.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device o-f theforegoing type which may be used to pull cables or wires into thesmallest gem boxes, tile boxes, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which may beemployed in close or confined quarters, where it is diflicult orimpossible to obtain leverage for pulling on a snake.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device to pull wiresinto finished or painted rooms without defacing walls or ceilings.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device whichpermits long pulling runs without splicing.

An important feature of the invention is the ease with which it may besupported stably in different environments, without the expenditure ofsetting-up time and without the need for attachment to pipes, boxes,conduits, and the like.

Another feature of the invention is its adaptability to different typesof installations, whether the pull required is upward, downward, or inanother direction.

A further advantage of the invention is its stability to pull a largebundle of wires out of a conduit and to provide sufficient exposed wirelength for splicing or terminal attachment.

Briefly stated, the device of the invention comprises an elongated framehaving a pulley suitably mounted at one end, and a body rest handle atthe other end. Located intermediately on the frame is a manuallyoperated Winch having a flexible cable which may be passed over or underthe pulley. A handle is provided directly behind the winch to affordgood stability and control as the winch is operated, and an additionalhandle below the winch is adapted for use with a prop for supporting thedevice. The construction of the pulley unit at the front of the framepermits its insertion directly into a terminal or outlet box or thelike, provides support for the front of the device, and permitsvariation of the di` rection of pull.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of theinvention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will becomemore readily apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription 'Zgiid Patented .lune 27, 1961 of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferredand exemplary embodiment, and wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevation view of the device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view illustrating a detail ofthe invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear view, partly sectional and broken away,illustrating a detail of the invention. l

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a detail of theinvention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and fFIGURES 6, 7, and 8 are perspective views illustratg ing typicalapplications of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGURE 1 thereof, referencenumeral 10 designates the frame of the device of the invention, whichcomprises a single length of hollow pipe, preferably cold-rolled tubing,At the forward end of the frame is a pulley unit 12 comprising a bracketin the form of a fork or yoke 14, and a pulley 16. The yoke 14 isgenerally U-shaped, having a splined stud 18 extending from its base.The stud 18 is press-fit into the forward end of the frame, expandingthe frame somewhat, as shown and fixing the pulley unit to the framesecurely. The larms of the pulley yoke are inclined upwardly from thebase of the yoke as shown in FIGURE 1 and embrace the pulleytherebetween. The pulley rotates on a spacer axle sleeve supported on apin 20 which extends between the arms of the pulley yoke and which isflattened at its ends to prevent its removal from the yoke.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the pulley itself is located above theframe 10 so that a cable 22 may pass over the pulley, as in FIGURE l, orunder the pulley as will be described hereinafter. The pulley has a wideshallow face to permit the passage of a bundle of wires. As furthershown in FIGURE 1, the pulley yoke 14 is augulated at 24 to form 'astepped portion which may support the forward end of the wire pullerwith the pulley located above or below the end of a conduit, there beingsufficient space between the edges of the yoke arms and the periphery ofthe pulley to insure that the pulley may rotate freely even when thepulley yoke is placed against extraneous objects.

At the rear end of the frame is a body rest handle 26 which is concavetoward the rear and which has a splined stud 28 press-fit into the rearend of the frame in the saiie manner that the stud 18 is press-t intothe forward en Intermediate the ends of the frame is a manually operatedwinch 30. The winch comprises a U-shaped or channel-shaped chassis orhousing 3.2 which supports a winding drum 34. As shown in FIGURE 3, theU- :shaped housing 32 has a base portion 36 atop the frame 10 `andsubstantially tangential thereto, and the bottom of the base is inface-to-face mating relation with a mounting bracket 38. The mountingbracket has a depending channel 40 through which the frame 10 extends,and the channel preferably narrows downwardly and has splined side wallsso as to grip the frame securely. The mounting bracket 38 and the base36 of the winch housing thus form a clamp for the frame 10, being heldtogether by bolts 42 which extend through aligned bores fin the bracket38 and the base 36 'and which receive nuts 44. Additional bolts 46 maybe passed upwardly through aligned bores in the bracket, the frame, andthe base to receive nuts 48. The mounting bracket 38 has a ydependingstub handle 50 below the winch which may be inserted in a pipey prop aswill appear. A handle 52 of inverted U-shape is located directly behindthe winch asY As shown in FIGURE 4, the winding drum 34 has a pair ofside discs S6 and 58 joined =by a hub sleeve 60. An axle 62 passesthrough the upright arms 64 and 66 of the winch housing and may have ahead at one end and be threaded to receive a retaining nut 68 at theother end thereof. The cable 22 is formed with a loop 70 at one endthereof, as shown in FIGURE 3, and a U-bolt 72 passes through the loopand through the disc 58 to receive nuts 74 as shown in FIGURE 2. Asuitable tting 76 retains the loop 70. The cable is wound upon the hub60 of the drum in successive layers and extends from the drum to thepulley unit 12 as shown in FIGURE 1. The free end of the cable isprovided with a loop 78 retained by another of the fittings 76. Thecable is stranded for strength and flexibility and is preferably agalvanized high carbon steel 1/s inch aircraft cable formed of sevenstrands, each with 19 wires. The cable employed, while strong enough ltopermit innumerable pulls, is flexible enough to be drawn throughconduits with the nylon line that is conveniently blown through conduitswith com.- pressed air. Such a cable has a rated strength of 2000pounds, and in a practical embodiment 200 feet of such cable may bewound upon the winding drum.

One end of the winding drum has a spur gear 801, preferably formedintegrally with the disc 58. The spur gear meshes with a pinion 82mounted .rearwardly of the winding drum as shown in FIGURE 4. The pinionhas a hub 84 through which a drive shaft 86 passes with suicient freedomto permit relative rotation between the pinion and ythe drive shaft. Thehub is slotted as shown at 8S, and the drive shaft has a radial pin 90which may extend into the slot as shown in FIGURE 4 to engage the huband drive the pinion. The shaft 86 is mounted for rod tation on theupwardly extending arms 64 and 66 of the winch housing and is alsoslidable transversely of the housing so as to disengage the pin `90 fromthe slots 88 as shown in FIGURE 3. Movement of the pinion along shaft 86is limited by engagement of the lateral surface of the gear teeth withdisc 58. A stop pin 92 extends radially from one end of the shaft 86 toprevent `cornplete removal of the shaft. The other end of the shaft isformed with a crank 94. Itis thus apparent that when the shaft 86 is inthe position shown in FIGURE 4, the crank 94 may be turned to drivegears 82 and 80* and the winding drum 34, and that when the shaft is inthe position shown in FIGURE 3, the winding drum and the gears 80 and 82may turn without turning the handle 94.

In order that the cable 22 may be kept from unwinding, a ratchetmechanism comprising a ratchet wheel 96 and a pawl 98 is provided. Theratchet wheel is preferably formed integrally with the pinion 482 andlies between the pinion and the arm 64 of the winch housing. The pawl 98may be pivoted on the axle 62 of the winding drum as shown in FIGURES 2,4, and 5. The free end of the pawl is normally held engaged with theteeth of the ratchet wheel by a tension spring 100 having one end fixedto a pin 102 on the lpawl and the other end looped about the edge of thehousing arm 64 as shown in FIG- URE 3. The pawl may be disengaged fromthe ratchet wheel by turning a knob 104 (FIG. 4) fixed to a stub shaft106 carrying abutments 108 which may engage the Vpawl as shown in FIGURE5. A small spring 110 may be inserted between the knob 104 and arm 64 ofthe housing to introduce some resistance to movement of the knob. Whenthe pawl is engaged with the ratchet Wheel, thecable may be woundontothe drum,but Vnot off.

2,990,160 .Y I .e

4 When the pawl is disengaged and the crank 94 is disengaged from pinion82, the cable may be unwound freely.

By virtue of the construction of the device of the invention a verystrong pull may be conveniently exerted -by one man. All of the parts ofthe device are constmcted for lightness as well as strength. In apractical embodiment of the invention, the device weighs only 26 pounds,and thus is fully porta-ble. Yet the device will exert a pull of 1500pounds with little exertion on the part of the operator, and over runsof up to 200 feet. Typically, the winch gear ratio is 3-to-1, and themechanical advantage of the crank is 5to-1, giving a total mechanicaladvantage of lS-to-l, but higher mechanical advantages may be obtained,as through the use of double reduction gearing.

FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 illustrate typical applications of the invention. InFIGURE 6 the left hand of the operator 112 grips the handle 50, whilethe right hand drives the crank 94. The forward end of the wire pulleris inserted in a small outlet box 114 in a wall 116, being supported inthe box by the pulley unit 12. As shown, the cable 22 extends over thepulley and then downward through the wall 116 in a conduit or other wirepassage.

By virtue of the construction of the pulley unit, the wire puller issupported at its forward end without attachment to the box 114, therebyeliminating any setting-up time. Moreover, the pulley turns within theoutlet box and is located to prevent damage to adjacent finished areas.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an application in which it is necessary to pulldownward. Here the cable 22 is passed under the pulley of the pulleyunit 12 and then extends upward through the wall 116. In thisapplication of the invention, the handle 50 has been inserted in one endof a length of pipe 118 which serves to support the wire puller on thefloor, additional support being provided by the pulley unit 12 at theforward end as desired. The operator 112 grips handle 26 with one handand turns the crank 94 with the other.

In the application illustrated in FIGURE 8, the wire puller is againsupported at its forward end by the pulley unit 12 in the box 114, therear of the pulley being supponted on the leg of the operator 112 by thebody rest 26. The operator grips the handle 52 with one hand and turnsthe crank 94 with the other.

As can be readily appreciated from the examples of FIGURES 6, 7, and 8,the device of the invention may be employed to pull all types of wireinto any type of box. Since the wire is under complete control at alltimes, the device may be employed to pull wire in hot areas. Moreover,because of the compactness and lightness of the device, it may bereadily employed in confined areas, where its inherent lgreat leverageis especially advantageous The elongated frame construction providesspace between the winch and the pulley to permit drawing out lengths ofwire for splicing or termination. In addition, for special applications,the bolts 46 may be removed and the bolts 42 loosened to permit theframe 10 to be moved relative to the winch for adjustment of theposition of the winch on the frame or for adjustment of the inclinationof the pulley to any desired angle; the bolts 42 may then be tightenedto clamp the frame.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changescan be made without departing from the principles and spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is dened in the appended claims.Accordingly, the foregoing embodiment is to be considered illustrative,rather than restrictive of the invention, and those modifications whichcome ywithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are tobe included therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable wire-pulling device comprising an elongated frame having aforward end and a rear end, a cable winding drum mounted on said frameand spaced a sub'- stantal distance from the forward end of the frame,said frame having support means rigidly xed to its forward end forsupporting said forward end in an outlet box and the like withoutattachment thereto, cable guide means mounted on said support means,said support means extending beyond the limits of said guide means inall directions from which wire is to be pulled to shield said guidemeans from contact with said outlet box and the like, a cable woundabout said drum and extending past said guide means, said guide meanshaving a guiding channel substantially wider than the Width of the cableto permit the passage of a bundle of wires, and a handle mounted on saidframe and extending transversely therefrom.

2. A portable Wire-pulling device comprising an elongated frame having aforward end and a rear end, support means rigidly xed to the forward endof said frame for supporting said forward end in an outlet box and thelike Without attachment thereto, a transverse body rest mounted at therear end of said frame, a cable winding drum mounted on said frame atone side thereof intermediate and spaced a substantial distance from theends thereof, la pulley rotatably mounted on said support means at thesame side of said frame as said winding drum, said support meansextending beyond the periphery of said pulley in all directions fromwhich wire is to be pulled to shield said pulley from contact with saidoutlet box and the like, and a cable wound about said drum and extendingpast said pulley, there being a clear cable path from the top of saidpulley to said drum and from the bottom of said pulley to said drum,whereby the cable may be trained over or under said pulley as desired.

3. The device of claim 2, said support means comprising a bracketextending obliquely upward at the forward end of said frame, said pulleybeing carried by said bracket above said frame, and said bracket havinga rest surface below said pulley for supporting said pulley above aconduit.

4. The device of claim 2, said device having a handle mounted on saidframe adjacent said Winding drum.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS528,151 Crisp Oct. 30, 1894 1,781,695 Mitchell-Henry Nov. 18, 19302,221,903 Abramson et al Nov. 19, 19'40 2,231,053 Byrd Feb. 11, 19412,284,532 Napier May 26, 1942 2,495,804 Berchtold Jan. 31, 19502,718,376 Raney Sept. 20, 1955

